75 Years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – Reflecting Back & Looking Forward

The adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948 was described by Eleanor Roosevelt as reflecting ‘our common aspiration … to lift men everywhere to a higher standard of life and to a greater enjoyment of freedom’. Seventy-five years later has that aspiration been realised? What is the future of human rights? Despite the proliferation of human rights treaties and laws over the past decades, the ideals set out in the UDHR often seem further away than ever before. Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, will reflect on the 75^thanniversary of the UDHR in light of current human rights issues in Australia and around the world, and what this means for the future direction of human rights.

Prior to joining the Commission Lorraine has worked as a lawyer and academic specialising in human rights and public law. Her most recent roles have been as the Senior Human Trafficking Specialist with the Australian Mission to ASEAN, and as a law lecturer at Murdoch University. In her academic role Lorraine has lectured in areas including criminal law, constitutional law and international human rights, and has been recognised with a number of national and university awards for her teaching and research.

Join us for this important conversation when members and guests will discuss the danger to civil society when human rights are considered an afterthought.